How To Save The Good Ship Ranger From Sinking Like The Titanic

By the time you read this, Peter Laviolette may be fired by the richest NHL team in America Or, if he's lucky, he may not.

If he hasn't been canned, thousands upon thousands of Rangers fans will be wondering why.

Pistol Pete has lost this team just as he's lost many teams. Period!

"Our execution was off all night," Lavvy explained post-game after ever-losing Chicago beat his club, 2-1.

Then, he cited possible reasons: 1. Fatigue; 2. Mental issues; 3. Anything. "The answer is in the room," he concluded.

Which prompted one veteran media type to wonder: "Isn't it the coach's job to have the answers?"

As for the players, this is the same core that won the Presidents' Trophy last season.

Which prompts the question: How could a team that finished first among the 32 clubs during the last regular season be so atrocious against the worst team in the league?

One reason could be a team-wide disgust with the manner in which Jacob Trouba, the team's captain, was shanghaied out of town by management. (And don't for a minute underestimate that factor.)

"The Rangers did too much reacting to play and a lack of dictating it," said MSG Networks' analyst Henrik Lundqvist, watching last night's debacle.

Assuming that the Rangers legendary goalie is right then It's embarrassing to the club's veterans. And that goes for Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider.

Ariel Fischler, my 18-year-old Ranger fan grandson-analyst, described his favorite team's game as "atrocious." And added: "One more loss and Lavvy should be at the JFK departure gate for the first flight out of town – one-way!"

Veteran hockey columnist Patrick Hoffman notes that veterans are making mistakes that are unfathomable; such as being out of position, not being able to pick up the open man and not getting sticks in front of the enemy's shots.

"If this team was truly trying to fix things and get back on track," Hoffman concluded, "it would be showing the fans – and the rest of the league – that they were fixing positions, limiting shots and playing with more urgency."

Then, a pause: "The team and Laviolette have not found solutions!" So, The Maven must haul in the appropriate bromide: "You can't fire the whole team."

Well, they jettisoned Trouba all the way to California. With that in mind you have to wonder how far the Garden slingshot can orbit Laviolette!